Solnox #3
It's a long one! ...But worth every word! ;) [also the breaking of spring, where to put your money, & so many things!]
Welcome back,
I had intended to send this out around the Spring Equinox, and even though I have a lot to say about spring, about the pains of growing, about this fucked up (but also beautiful) world we live in. Most of what I had written was for another moment, from a different me and if I had all the words to say how much is composting, shifting, growing in my spirit and in my worlds right now this would be a small novel and not a newsletter. SO I’m going to try my hardest to tune into the words that most need to be lifted up, and affirmed as they reach for the springtime sun.
“I am dreaming like my life depends on it. Because it does.”- Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
TLDR (Too Long Didn’t Read, or a helpful summary of What’s Below!)
Spring Reflections
The world is on fire: Throw your money away!
Visual Scribing Highlights!
Support my work: Project Palabra! (Coming soon!)
Monthly Jamz + 4 The Culture
Yobs + Opps
“Stories at their best, will break something old in you or build something new.” - Jason Reynolds
(BELATED) Equinox: Spring Reflections.
And as much as I longed to be in harmony with the seasonal cycles, The equinox came and I was stuck in bed with a horrible migraine (literally my body’s way of sitting me the fuck down.) The equinox is the first day of spring, a day of balance, a day when the hours of the day match the hours of the night. I would like to imagine that the equinoxes are a gentle reminder to invite more balance into your life.
It didn’t feel so gentle, but I remember that often lessons learned in moments of growth are painful. Even seeds have to fight their way out of their own shells as they sprout, demanding that something break in order to breathe new life. Sometimes growth is hard, messy, and painful.
Sometimes you come crashing hard and fast into a race you didn’t exactly sign up for and you have to keep going, keep crying, keep growing, until the lessons of the season, lessons of a moment are done with you.
Here’s to hoping the things breaking, at the micro and macro, are clearing the way for better things ahead.
On to the things!
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” –– Angela Davis
The world is on fire! And new world(s) are coming!
Yes I did in fact go on a very long rant about the potential fall of the U.S empire (astrologically, democratically, politically, etc.) at a friends gathering recently. (maybe not my best party trick but one that feels so live) On the one hand, my very pessimistic Capricorn self is like, OF COURSE the supreme court doesn’t give a f*ck about the rights of anyone with a uterus. And looking at the overwhelming amount of anti-LGBT & specifically anti-trans legislation sweeping across the country it’s clear that they are coming for any, and all forms of decision making over our bodies.
It’s bleak out here y’all.
AND, on the other hand, I STILL have hope. I’m continually amazed at the response of communities to come together and build systems of support & care, especially when our governments were never going to give it to us. New worlds are coming, and we are building them now, learning together and getting creative with how we can meet our needs. (Heads up for a resource dump below!)
Beyond that, I’m not going to add to much to the conversation today beyond stating the simple fact: I love someone who has had an abortion, & I’m sure you do too. I love queer and trans people and (you probably do too!) I only want for each of us to not only survive, but to live a joyful life.
If you’re newer to reproductive justice and you want to learn more about resources, history, general political education and so much more, check out this very comprehensive Resource Kit!
The news this week, from the fires in Northern New Mexico, the attack on abortion & reproductive rights, and the continued legislative attacks against LGBTQ+ community has been intense & heavy. To me these issues of climate & reproductive justice are so deeply interconnected. If you too, are enraged, exhausted, ready to do something, wanting to learn more, or any of the above…
I hope you can a) donate to some of the options below
b) find time to educate yourself on these issues more, and
c) share these resources with someone else so that might need or want them.
If you want more updates and want to support climate action in New Mexico follow: @nmclimatejustice
If you want to support some local abortion funds:
If you’re curious about other funds here’s a resource guide to abortion funds in every state!
If you want to learn more about the harmful anti LGBTQ+ legislation happening check out this tracker to see what’s happening now!
~BONUS INCENTIVE:~
During the Month of May, If you send me a picture of a donation you made to one of the abortion funds above I’ll send you a tiny piece of art (you’ll just need to also send me your mailing address!) (Send me a pic via Email, IG, text, whatever!)
I haven’t shared much about it here or on social media, but I’m currently training to become a full spectrum doula, I anticiapte I’ll be doing a lot of abotion doula work in the next few months + coming years, so please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about abortion access in New Mexico.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” - Audre Lorde
Visual Scribing Highlights: Food Justice is Racial Justice.
For the past two years I have been creative visual through live scribing for a group in Springfield that works together to fight for food justice initiatives & policy in Springfield Massachusetts. It’s been such a joyful journey to be able to witness & reflect their work for food justice and racial equity work in local food systems. Please enjoy the visuals below of our most recent sessions together.
Reflections on the impact of having visual scribing: “...this is such a powerful way to engage people in dialogue. This will be useful for years to come, …AS well as in charting a new path forward.” - Fertile Grounds with Mass Up Springfield.
Support Project Palabra: Coming Soon!
I’m notoriously terrible & even shy at talking about my work, my art, my visions for what I’m trying to put out into the world. But I’m trying to be brave and put myself out there. So here it goes.
I have been doing freelance visual scribing for 3+ years, I have also been doing printmaking, public art, visual design and so much more... but what has always guided me in any of the work I do is a deep and rooted passion for Cultural Organizing: social change work that is rooted in the liberating power of the arts and culture. I believe in the power of the arts to promote collaboration, generate action, and vision together in order to uplift community self determination.
I am creating Project Palabra as an intentional cultivation space for social and cultural change projects including but not limited to: Graphic Recording, Sustainable Stationary and Art, and Visual Design.
While I have been doing community engaged work & creative projects of all sorts over the last few years as a freelance independent creative, I am formally opening this business to grow and root into community and creative practice more intentionally. One day, I hope this cultivation space can be an actual physical space for creatives + change makers alike to come to build community through creative actions and initiatives!
Why am I raising money?
Two of the main barriers that women & people of color face when trying to start a business is a lack of mentorship & a lack of access to capital + funding.
Mentorship can be especially impactful in the early stages of starting a business, but 48% of female entrepreneurs lack mentors, and for women & queers of color it’s worse. (not to mention minority business owners are more likely to be denied credit than other small business owners.)
This is why I’m starting off in a bit of an unconventional way, but to me one of the most powerful and impactful ways: reaching out to and leaning on my community. If you are able to donate and support my starting cost today, it would not only mean the world, but it would mean tangibly helping me to break down some of the added barriers to starting a business.
As a young, brown, queer, creative, I am passionate about culture change and creative avenues of connection. I know the work I would be able to build out with Project Palabra is going to ripple out (and has already started to!)
Please support my work and help me access mentorship & starting costs for my new studio space to get my feet on the ground!
If you can’t support financially, you can still help by sharing this with 2 people you know that might be able to donate!
“We must risk delight. We can do without pleasure,
but not delight. Not enjoyment. We must have
the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless
furnace of this world.” -Jack Gilbert
Monthly Jams
~Playlists that you didn’t ask for~
~Albums I’ve had on repeat~
Songs to break up to - Wild Rivers
4 the Culture
Listenings & Readings that I share ~for the culture~
Podcasts:
The Turnaway Study: What the research says about abortion | Shortwave
Raquel Willis’s Vision for Trans Liberation | Lady Don’t Take No
Our Own People | Throughline (!!)
15 mins | Ear Hustle
How to let more joy into your life | Life Kit (!)
Mugwort Pt 1 & Pt 2 | Elder hour
Financial Advice for Artists who think they are bad with $ | Life Kit
The Way We Dream | Throughline
“We live in capitalism it’s power seems inescapable but so did the divine right of kings - Ursula K Leguin
“Artists can bring forth what it is they practice. I’d say our practice is the sun. It brings the sunlight into someone else’s life as well. And with this sunlight, we can experience the pure, pristine, present moment of self.” -Laraaji
Yobs + Opps
Aka jobs people should know about + Other cool opportunities I’ve come across.
~Yobs:
Center for Cultural Innovation | Program Associate (Bay Area)
People's Action Institute | Multiple Positions
Liberate Abortion | Digital Organizer (Part-Time Contractor/Remote)
Foundation Associate - Donor Management | Peace Development Fund (MA)
Interim Executive Director | Audre Lorde Project (NYC)
People’s Economy Lab | Communications & Network Organizing Contractor
Trans Emergency Fund | Multiple Positions (Boston)
Organizer | Debt Collective
~Opps:
(!!!) Artwork Archive | Complete Guide to 2022 Artist Grants & Opportunities
Nightboat Books | 2022 Editorial Fellowship for aspiring BIPOC Editor (May 15 deadline)
People’s Summit | Call for Art (May 11 Deadline!)
That’s all for now! Thanks for reading & (shout out to all my new readers!!)
Blessings your way!